FOREST AND STREAM. 



523 



time, or had (Tini.j all the way from cover under the snow. No one 

 thai I have ?p« Saw or heard of g b 



rowing In the i ,,,,ri,n your white ... maki I 



ohm." n Ri 



Hires sil still wherever as now storm overtakes thern, and 

 begins to cover them over, they keep crowd- 

 ing and pushing genQy backward and forward and from aide 

 to side until they form a little roomy chamber nil around them, 

 The snow gradually heaps up until a domed arch is formed, 

 except where little round holes are left in the top by the warm 

 air of their breathing— just as the snow houses of the EsqUi 

 maux are made. There they eit snugly, until hunger impels 

 tliem to vacate, in search of food. No tracks are visible in 

 the uewly fallen snow ; but the quick eye of the young hunter, 

 or the keen nose of his dog, as they range over the waste on 

 the rnormng after the snow-fall, soon detects the " forms," 

 and it is but an instant's work to jump poor Molly Cotton out 

 of her bed ; and then all is up with her. 



Ptarmigan (a species of grouse found in the North,) also 

 have the same habit ; and when kicked up out of the snow are 

 as lively and strong of wing as in summer. In the sub-arctic 

 regions where they have their habitat, the temperature is so 

 Uniformly low that a crust seldom forms ; and they therefore 

 escape the common fate of our quail which otten perish by 

 being snowed under. Deep snows are no detriment to accli- 

 mated birds provided they can obtain food, but rather a warm 

 protecting blanket. Lack of food is what they suffer from. 

 For this reason we have so strongly urged our Mends to scat- 

 ter grain for them. Molly Cotton, the hare, who is a good 

 forager and wide awake to the means of subsistence, is often 

 found nestliug in those little hollows on the lee side of trees, 

 where the eddy and whirl of the snow as it ia driven by the 

 wind, has left the ground bare aud the dry grass and fallen 

 seeds exposed, Our inquiring friend will at once perceive 

 that it is anything hut unusual to find hares buried under the 

 snow. 



ADVICE UNHEEDED. 



-FBAMiNGnAsr, Mass., Deo. 3, 1S78. 

 Editok Forest and stream : 



Perhaps, in your view, ■' one word more " on the " Sparrow Ques- 

 tion "may tie one word too rnuny; but I uiluk that all printed on the 

 subject, in your columns and elsewhere, 1r read with Interest by a very 

 large portion of the community, both by those wlio side with the " at. 

 tacit" ana with the "defense." From the various testimonies so tar,' 

 to in;, unud those opposed have the beat of it, and I Send you the fol- 

 lowing to show that we were duly forewarned. It is from an old nnm- 

 . In an article on tlte "Birds of Tndia," Rev. 

 ■f II. I :ruce sounds this note of warning in regard to our proposed In- 

 troduction of Ptuaet domcMicus. After giving an account of the noisy 

 aud impertinent ways of the i-parrows native to that country (P. tnM- 

 ctts), auo quoting or. .ronton as saying, " It is one of tho greatest pests 

 of India," Air B. goes on to say: " I itavo been more particular in 

 describing this bird, because of recent attempts to introduce a closely 

 allied species into America, I look with some apprehension upon 

 (Torts, as 1 believe them to be ill-advised and inexpedient. The 

 European sparroiv dous not differ essentially from Its Indian ally, aud 

 •"''- ■ -iy generally regarded as a nuisance wherever 



itabounda." Then follows references to it in England, Spain and Syria. 

 Ue concludes: "If me speetos is to bo Introduced Into America to 

 destroy the larvio of insects, It should be remembered that it is, for the 

 most part, a feeder on grain, seeds aud buds, devouring grubs only in 

 the breeding season. That season embraces but a small portion of 

 i no years during the rernatuder they may cause great destruction, 



teosi i Hose who have to do in this matter will act advisedly, lost they 

 introduce that which may eventually become as great a nuisance in lis 

 way U3 the curculio and canker worm." F, C. Brown. 



ATTENTION, CONTRIBUTORS. 



officis nv V. S. Gkoi.ooioal ano Geographical Sdkvf.y) 

 or the TEKKiTORras, Wasuikgtojt, Jan IT, 1S19. { 

 EniTOtt Forest ami Stueam: 

 si/-— The Bibliographical portion of my late work on the "Birds of 

 lo! i u n \ alley " oontalha very numerous citations of titles from 

 Forest AMD Stream. Many of these, however, are anonymous, or of 

 unknown authorship. 1 beg yon to say through your columns that If 

 the persons interested will furnish the required names the defect will 

 be remedied In the anal edition of the Bibliography. I wish to add, 

 further, that any additions to, or corrections of, this piece of Bibliog- 

 raphy will be welcomed and utilized. 



Yours, Elliott Ootjks. 



^aadlmtdr $mn and §ardm. 



For Forest and Stream and Rod and Oun. 

 SHEEP RAISING IN TEXAS. 



OP late years great attention has been paid to the culture 

 of sheep and the production of fine wool ia Texas, and 

 indeed with marked success, as nearly the entire south and 

 southwestern portion of the State is monopolized by the sheep 

 man. It was formerly the stronghold of the cattle man, who 

 reigned supreme from reasons of long occupation only, not from 

 any right or title lo the land, as there were scarcely aoy land- 

 owners in this part of the country at that, time, and indeed up 

 to the first appearance of sheep. Cattle men, in the choice of 

 their ranches, had but one tiring in view, and that was the 

 portion of country that possessed the most attraction for their 

 business, as they were all squatters, and neither bought nor 

 rented land. In those days the hills and fields were dotted 

 in almost every directum with cattle, while now it is alto- 

 i. it i i -en i, as the fields that we're once kepi closely crop- 

 pea by the cow and her young are, almost thoroughly deserted 

 by them, aud in the place we find the dusky Mexican follow- 

 ing iiif woolly flock. Ckttlfi business, it) be carried on suc- 

 cessfully, must have laigo tracks of unoccupied range, with 

 grass and water ; and when the country was public 

 property It was a most lucrative business, but when the 

 ■ange must be rented or bought, the quantity is so 

 great that it renders it much less profitable, in consequence of 

 which cattle-men are moving buck into the wilt 



civilized portion of the State. In their stead we tied the 

 sheep-man, as be can afford to rent or buy land, for the reason 

 that the same amount ol capital can be Invested and manipu- 

 lated on one-tenth the amount of land, with almo 

 quite, double the profits. In former years bOveraoient land 

 could be obtained 1 1 i d location, and tin cosl ' 



i a sufficient range could he 



tlmoat for the cost of surveying : but now it is dif- 

 ferent, us moneyed men and oorporutionshavegained : 



of nearly ail of liie UUloCated laud, and it is now necessary to 

 either buy Or rent from them. Most of the lands, however, 

 belong to the railroads of the State, and as these lands are 

 exempt from taxation for a term ol twenty-five years, they 

 can rent lands very reasonably. Their rates of rent, per year 

 range from half a cent to a cent and a half per acre, and a 

 lease is given for a term of five or ten years to suit the lessee. 

 I might state, however, that none of the railroad lands are for 

 sale. The slieep business in this Stale presents a gold in fa© 

 and though it hits been tested for upward ol forty years, ii, 

 has not yet proved a failure ; but, on Ihe." contrary, where 

 favorable circumstances surround and close alien ii 

 to the business, it is undoubtedly a profitable one. \V ben the 

 business was in its infancy, common slieep were raised almost 

 exclusively, but of late years great improvements have been 

 made in the grades of sheep, tiil now we can produce samples 

 Of wool to compare favorably with Australian wool, and were 

 it not for empty reputation we could command as high prices 

 The modes of grading sheep are many, but thuquickes , best, 

 and most profitable way of bringing the common sheep to a 

 paying condition is to lake the common Mexican ewes, which 

 are long-legged) straight haired sheep, shearing from a pound 

 arid a halt to four pounds, aud use the full-blooded, greasy - 

 wooled, wrinkley, short-legged Merino bucks, and the 

 result will be that of shortening of the legs, increasing the 

 weight of wool, as well as improving the texture at the same 

 time. The Inmb will lake on the natural hardiness of the mother, 

 which is far greater than the Merinoes— in fact full-blooded 

 Mcrinoes do not do well in this climate. After your sheep are 

 found to bear a wool sufficiently greaay aud heavy, it is then 

 time to change the breed of bucks ami grade the texture of 

 your wool. Imported bucks can be bought for from thirty to 

 ono hundred dollars per head, and one buck is sufficient for 

 fifty ewes. Mexican sheep can be bought for from $1,25 

 to $1.75 per head, according to age and time of year. 

 The advantages in improved sheep are many, and 

 though it is claimed by some that the remuneration is no 

 greater, still it is a lack of judgment and calculation on their 

 part, tor it needs but a moment's thought to see that the ex- 

 pense attached is less in proportion, and the income far 

 greater, considering the increased number that must be kept 

 of the common ewes. A graded sheep is worth from §2.50 

 to $3 per head, just double the cost of the Mexican. A 

 graded sheep will shear from five to ten pounds of wool, 

 which is worth from seventeen to twenty-live cents per pound, 

 while Mexicans only shear from one and a half to four pounds, 

 aud is worth from ten to thirteen cents per pound ; thus 

 showing that while the cost is only double for graded 

 slieep, the income irom them is about live times as 

 great, aud as their amount of increase is the same as in the 

 common sheep, that being one lamb a year, wc arrive at the 

 following conclusion : that every improved lamb counts as 

 five common ones in wool producing, and is worth at least 

 twice as much to sell. In keeping five times as many com- 

 mon sheep as improved it is necessary to pay and feed five 

 times as many shepherds, use live times as much salt, and 

 have a range of five times the extent. Another great item in 

 favor of improved sheep is that the muttons are worth double 

 that of a common sheep for market, thus leaving no inlet 

 lor argument on the advisability ol handling graded sheep or 

 the profits attached thereto. The average amount of increase 

 iu. sheep is from seventy-five lo ninety per cent, annually. 

 The process of breeding is carried on as follows : The sheep 

 are divided into different flocks ; in one Hock are ewes, iu 

 another lambs, in another wethers, and in another are the 

 bucks. Sometimes, however, if the number of sheep is small 

 aud insufficient for so many divisions, they are all run to- 

 gether with the exception of the bucks, which are kept separ- 

 ate except in bucking season, that being in September and Oc- 

 tober. Uy doing the bucking that lime of year it brings the 

 lambs early in the spring when the grass is green amf juicy, 

 producing a bountiful supply of milk, and by coming all to- 

 gether the period of lambing is definite, ami special attention 

 and care cau be paid to it, thereby saving all or nearly ail of 

 the lambs. The quality of land necessary for sheep is esti- 

 mated differently, but from an acre and a half to i .-. 

 about the right amount per head, and in very fine range pos- 

 sibly less. The character of range best adapted for sheep is 

 slightly rolling land with plenty of fine grass and underbrush; 

 though too much underbrush is a detriment, and especially if 

 there is much of the famous cat-claw, which is a bush ranging 

 in height from three to seven feet, and, unless visited by very 

 hard frost, remains green all winter. The origin of the name 

 (cat-claw) aud the detriment attached is due to a thorn which 

 is the exact shape of a cat-claw and sets with it point toward 

 the body of the bush, thus making a regular hook-shaped 

 thorn, and in driviug slieep through it the loss of wool is 

 great. The advantages of underbrush are undoubted, as it 

 serves as food for sheep in the winter when the grass gets dry; 

 and as sheep will eat almost anything that is greeu it takes 

 the place of grass, besides being a thorough protection from 

 the biting winds that visit Texas in the winter. The choice 

 of underbrush would be about one-half wahilla wilh a small 

 quantity of white brush, together with some live oak brush, 

 a.ud a little of other kinds will not hurt. As for grasses, the 

 shortest, finest and least bulky of the many grasses are ihe 

 best, as a sheep will eat that kind level with the ground, and 

 thereby get all the nutrition, while of large, heavy grass he 

 will merely nip the tender ends oil. In selection and choice 

 of range care should lie taken tu get it well watered, that is to 

 get land interspersed here and there with water, so that there 

 shall be no great distance to drive to water, aud also that grass 

 Bhall he kept in the neighborhood of it that ihe sheep may 

 feed up to and away from Watering, thus losing no time and 

 preventing a flock from scattering. Sheep, it is said, can sub- 

 sist on less water than almost, any other animal, as wo have 

 instances here of whole docks having done without water for 

 three or four months. The rule, though, is to water sheep in 

 summer every second day, and in winter twice a week. An- 

 other matter in which great care and precision should be ex- 

 ercised in sheep culture is the saltiug of your flocks, as itfl 

 benefits are many and as apparent as they xre numerous. It. 

 serves to increase the appetite and causes them to drink win n 

 they would otherwise refuse, at the same time keeping up ihe 

 general lone Of the system, in some countries shepherd dogs 

 are largely used, while in this country they are wholly nu- 

 J i ions objection to them here is that 

 they herd the sheep too closely, thereby increasing the liabil- 



ity to disease and also lessening the scope of grouiiu 

 to feed. Herding is done in this country almost entirely hy 

 Mexicans, as the life is a rough one and the remuneration 

 small, and there are but few who will subsist on the wages 

 gained and put up with the. rough secluded life necessary to a 

 shepherd here. The average wages paid in this Stale is 

 twelve, dollars per month and found, and indeed the word 

 found implies little, as three words will explain all, viz : Meal, 

 bacon and coffee, and a decidedly limited quantity of each 

 Each man has charge of a flock of sheep, wh ich he E 

 day mi foot, and each flock consists of about a thousand, 

 sometimes more ; but One thousand is regarded us being about 

 the right quantity in each flock for safety iu every way. 



Sheep, like men, are heirs to many diseases, and as many 

 remedies are recommended for their cure. 1 will touch, how- 

 ever, on those subjects at another time. 



in conclusion, I would say that it is a business which, if 

 given sufficient attention, which means constant and undi- 

 vided attention, and good judgment is displayed in conducting 

 it, there is no doubt of its paying qualities. If, h , ,v 

 the contrary, careless and neglectful hands manage it, there 

 is no business that will result more disastrously andin so short 

 a space of time as the sheep business. J, ci. 



Foon iron Horses.— The German army has adopted as a 



food for its horses biscuits of three parts each of rye flour, 

 oat flour and dextriuated pea flour, anil one part of linseed 

 Hour. The biscuits are made with a hole in the middle of 

 each, so they can be strung to a string and hung to the saddle- 

 bow 01 be carried by the trooper around his waist. Each" 

 biscuit weighs, when baked dry and hard, about two ounces. 

 Seven biscuits are broken up" and given to the horse in the 

 morning, moistened with water, if convenient, otherwise dry, 

 twelve at noon and seven at night. After careful experiment 

 iu camp, on the march and campaigning, they are reported by 

 all the cavalry and artillery officers better than oats. A 

 trooper can easily carry thirty pounds of these biscuits, 

 which will furnish his horse wilh lull rations for eight days, 

 or will serve, with forage, for twenty days' hard marching. 



Yachting nnd Routing. 



A CORINTHIAN CUTTER. 



TIEE desigus for an able little clipper, 30ft, on load lino, 

 which we publish iu this issue, are from tho plans of 

 an experienced amateur, whoso extensive practice with minia- 

 ture or model yachts gives especial weight to the ideas ex- 

 pressed in tho little yacht of the Corinthian order, which ac- 

 companies "Martin Gale's" letter treating upon the subject. 

 The design meets with our approval in all its main features, 

 and corresponds closely to the wants felt by many who desire 

 to enjoy those heightened charms of the sport only to be ex- 

 perienced by the real sailor when aboard a little ship that he 

 feels and knows can carry him wherever he listeth ; that, will 

 not prove wanting in times of distress ; that will not inconti- 

 nently spill him and his crew into the briny should he carry 

 on in a breeze, and fail to lull-out or cry, "I cave! " The 

 design is an exemplification of Collin Archer's wave system, 

 in which areas proportional to the ordinates of the cycloidal 

 curve are considered iu place of only lines themselves, as in 

 the original theory of Scott Kussell. The uniform satisfac- 

 tory results which have attended the construction of such 

 well-known flyers as the 5-ton Freda, 15-lon Maggie and 100- 

 ton J-uUanar in England upon the Archer system is a pretty 

 good guaranty for the performances of the design published 

 herewith. Upon inspection it will be found to unite a greater 

 number of desirable qualities than the sloop of the ordinary 

 model. Only in one point can the latter lay claim to any ad- 

 vantage, and that is in the matter oi draft. To this wc heed 

 only say that a deep, sea-going craft has no more business 

 poking round mud-flats than a 2: H trotter has before a Broad- 

 way " 'bus " or a laden dray. Suit your water to the boat 

 quite as much as the boat to the water. Very few indeed are 

 so placed that they canuot keep their craft in a fathom good 

 and cruise when they want to with a Liverpool liner's water 

 under their keels. Those few who for one reason or other 

 cannot get beyond a few feet of the needful, have our sym- 

 pathies to the fullest extent, for they are debarred 

 from one-half the life there is iu the sport- 

 sailing in deep and open Water. The shallow 

 centre boarder becomes to them a necessity ; but others more 

 fortunate iu their opportunities will find in the design pub- 

 lished what they have long been looking for : an able, easy, 

 roomy, handy, fast, and above all, a safe craft, which will 

 carry them safely anywhere; iu which they cau beat off a 

 lee-shore in a gale ; in which they can bunk in for a spell be- 

 low and turu over the trick at the helm to the crew without 

 any anxiety of awakening wrong side up. The design has 

 more stability than Ihe sloop, and will heel less excepting at 

 small initial angles, a difference of no moment. She will 

 cost very little if anything more than boats of the ordinary 

 type, the excess in cost of a handy sailor -like rig and of some 

 wholesome lead on her keel being very nearly covered by Un- 

 less expense on her hull, due to her moderate beam. She is 

 intended to be flush decked fore and aft, gaining thereby 

 something like a third more accommodation below and a clear 

 deck with 9ft. of room across to work ship in,: instead of two 

 narrow gangways and a lubberly mansard with a barn door. 

 But if a cockpit be considered necessary to the ease of tho 

 city bred tars, it may be supplied without otherwise injuring 

 the design than sacrificing cabin comforts under deck and in- 

 creasing somewhat the possibility of having gorgeous fittings 

 below make too close an acquaintance with salt water, ffor 

 out part we much prefer to see the design carried out in its 

 entirety and woidd make a tolerably high combing do duty in 

 place of the cockpit. 



